TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Jarrett On Health Care Reform: 'We Are Confident That The American People Will Support This. It's Good For Them'
Appearing on This Week, White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett predicted that public opinion on the new health care law will improve: "There has been a lot of negative rhetoric that we've heard around the country. But what we are sure of is that this is as the American people begin to understand what's in this package...we are confident that the American people will support this. It's good for them. As you go around and you start talking about the individual components of this bill, we're seeing overwhelming support.

DeMint: Obama 'Mocking Americans Who Continue To Be Against This Bill'
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) continued to push for repealing the new health care reform law. "All of us who believe in freedom in this country recognize that if this health care bill stands, it will not only destroy our health care system, we believe it will bankrupt our country. So to give up on repealing this bill will be giving up on our country, for me and, I think, for millions of Americans," said DeMint, who also added: "Bob, the president is mocking Americans who continue to be against this bill."

Jarrett On Israel: 'Friends Can Disagree'Also during her appearance on This Week, White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett downplayed any diplomatic rift between the United States And Israel: "The United States is a strong and ardent ally of Israel. The fact of the matter is that friends can disagree, and I think what's important is that world leaders are able to sit down with one another, have frank conversations and move forward. I don't think there is any doubt in the mind of Bibi Netanyahu about the president's commitment to Israel and its safety, and how important it is for the United States and for the region."

Graham: Fight Over Health Bill 'Going To Spread to Every Statehouse In The Nation'Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said: "My state is going to get killed by having to serve more Medicaid people; it's going to hurt state budgets. Finally, this fight won't wind up being just in Washington; it's going to spread to every statehouse in the nation, and we're going to have referendums on this bill through every statehouse in the nation. Can the states afford what Washington did to them?"

Axelrod On Recess Appointments: Senate 'Has A Responsibility' To Act On NominationsAppearing on State of the Union, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod defended President Obama's recess appointments this weekend, saying that the Senate "has a responsibility to dispose of these nominations." "We have 77 appointees who have not gotten the vote because they have been held up by the Republican Party," said Axelrod. "Some of them are in very sensitive positions - Treasury, Homeland Security, and boards like the Labor Relations Board...where there are a huge number of vacancies."

Alexander: 'What It's Called Is Checks And Balances'Appearing on State Of The Union, Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) responded to Democratic accusations on obstructionism in the matter of the recess appointments. "What it's called is checks and balances," said Alexander, who also added: "We have a Senate to provide advice and consent. We have a constitutional responsibility to keep the president from ramming things through like they did the health care bill, like they did student loans over the weekend and like he's doing with this labor appointee."

Bachmann: Obama's Policies 'Not The American Way'Appearing on Face The Nation, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) was asked whether she thought President Obama was anti-American. She did not definitely answer the question, but instead discussed his economic policies: "I think it is very serious when the federal government directly owns car companies. That is not the American way. Or when the American economy directly owns 50 percent of all America's mortgages or has direct ownership or control of the health care industry."